Trump, a fallen star ... a smashed up star?

Thursday, 26 July 2018 06:23

By Taylah Strano

It's not the first time the Presidential star has been defaced.

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man after he smashed President Donald Trump's star to pieces on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Authorities said Austin Clay could be seen smashing the floor with a pickaxe, which he had transported to the site disguised in a guitar case.

Clay did not offer an explanation for his actions and is being held on $20,000 bail.

Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement the Walk of Fame is "an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees.

"When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark," Gubler said. "Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property."

President Trump earned his star of the walk of fame for his role in producing the Miss Universe shows.

It is not the first time the President's star has been vandalised. In 2016 a street artist constructed a small wall around the reality star-turned politician's star in an act of protest.

In October 2016 a man was also arrested for vandalising the star with a sledgehammer and pickaxe.

A Go Fund Me page was set up to help raise the $20,000 bail money for Clay. Just under $1300 has been raised so far.

The suspect who is accused of destroying Donald Trump’s star is 24-year-old Austin Mikel Clay, police tell me. He has been booked on felony vandalism and jailed on a $20,000 bond https://t.co/nOmVEYmm61 pic.twitter.com/csTYlONIxs
— Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) July 25, 2018